Apparatus for transporting an elongated flexible element



Dec. 17, 1968 HANINGER 3,416,742

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ELEMENT Filed Nov. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 33 14/ 32b 36 Y 37 34 m 15 13H 5 11 38a Lou 38 LE 1.1 1;

H. HANINGER Dec. 17, 1968 APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ELEMENT Filed Nov.. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor- Hawsr 7/.

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE First and second transporting rollers transport a yarn which has loops supported on a control roller and on the first transporting roller. The control roller is angularly oscillated to define different angles with the first control roller so that the loops slide on the rollers and a yarn portion slides on a heater plate in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the yarn.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting an elongated flexible element, such as a thread, rope, filament, yarn, or wire, and more particularly to an apparatus for transporting an elongated flexible element consisting of a synthetic plastic material through a treatment area of a textile machine, such as a drawtwisting machine, the synthetic yarn being heated and stretched in the treatment area.

In textile machines of this type, it is conventional to provide a heating element in the form of a heated plate in the treatment area, and to slidingly guide the synthetic yarn on the surface of the heated plate while the yarn is being stretched by first and second transporting rollers provided before and behind the treatment area. Due to the high tension of the stretched yarn, the rapidly moving yarn is pressed against the heated plate so that a groove may be cut or milled by the yarn into the heated plate even if the same is hardened. As a result, the yarn is damaged and the expensive heater plate has to be discarded.

It is one object of the invention to overcome this disadvantage of prior art constructions, and to provide an apparatus for transporting a yarn, or like flexible element, in such a manner that neither a treating part engaged by the transporting yarn, nor the transported yarn itself, are damaged.

Another object of the invention is to reciprocate a transported elongated flexible element in a direction transverse to its travel so that damage to parts slidingly engaged by the flexible element is prevented.

Another object of the invention is t oreciprocate a transported elongated flexible element in a direction trans verse to the direction of travel by means other than a movable guide eye.

With these objects in view, one embodiment of the invention comprises control means, preferably including a control roller for slidably supporting one or several loops of the flexible element; and operating means for angularly reciprocating the control means.

During angular movement of the control means, the last loop in the direction of travel slides on the control roller toward and away from the first loop so that a portion of the flexible element is reciprocated in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the transported flexible element.

If this portion of the flexible element slides on a heater plate, it is moved transversely over the same, and cannot cut a groove.

The arrangement of the invention eliminates a reciproeating yarn guide used in some construction of the prior art. While reciprocating yarn guides also obtain a transverse movement of the guided and transported yarn, the yarn engages always the same portion of the yarn guide, and cuts a groove into the same, resulting in damage to the yarn. Reciprocating yarn guides provided with rollers are complicated, and frequently malfunction at high transporting speeds of the yarn. Furthermore, a yarn guide requires a slight kink in the yarn, the angle of the kink varying during the reciprocation of the yarn guide, which has a disturbing influence on the treatment of the yarn.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view illustrating one embodiment of the invention applied to a textile machine in which a synthetic yarn is heated and stretched;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section, illustrating a detail of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary side elevations illustrating two operational positions of a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic front view illustrating a detail of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially in section, illustrating a modification of the construction shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front view illustrating a modification of drive means used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary schematic front view illustrating a modification of the structure shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary schematic side elevation illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, in which like parts are designated by the same reference numerals, an apparatus according to the invention is provided for transporting a flexible yarn element 14 in the direction of the arrow A through a treatment zone of a draw-twisting machine in which, e.g., a synthetic yarn 14 is guided over the surface 18 of a heater 17, and simultaneously stretched between the transporting rollers 12 and 19 of first and second rotary means. A great number of stretching devices 10 are arranged in a row, only one being shown for the sake of simplicity, since they are of identical construction.

The elongated flexible element 14 is delivered from a preceding treatment station to a first point of contact 11 on transporting roller 12, laid in several loops about transporting roller 12 and a control roller 13, extends from the last point of contact 16 with transporting roller 12 to a first point of contact 20 on transporting roller 19, and is delivered from a last point of contact 20a to another part of the machine.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 9, the first loop in the direction of travel of the flexible element starts at point 11, and the last loop in the direction of travel ends at point 16. Points 11 and 16 are schematically indicated by small circles in the drawing.

Loops 15 pass over transporting roller 12 and control roller 13 of the first transporting means 12a, and loops 21 pass over transporting roller 19 and control roller 22 of a second transporting means 19a by which the flexible element 14 is slippage free transported.

Transporting roller 12 is driven at a first rotary speed, and transporting roller 19 is driven at a second higher rotary speed so that the portion of the flexible element 14 between transporting rollers 12 and 19 is stretched to three or four times its original length while being heated by the heater 17 to a temperature between 180 and 250 C., depending on the material, thickness and speed of the transported flexible element. The speed may be between 400 and 800 meters per minute.

The portion of the flexible element 14 which is supplied to the first transporting roller 12 is guided by a guide eye, not shown, so that the first point of engagement 11 does not vary its position on transporting roller 12.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the axis 24 of control roller 13 is slanted at an acute angle a to the axis 23 of the driven transporting roller 12. Transporting roller 12 and its shaft are mounted in a bearing, not shown, provided in a support 25a. Axis 23 of roller 12 is perpendicular to the adjacent surface of support 25a. A mounting means 28 has an outer cylindrical surface and is mounted in a corresponding bearing 25 of support 25a for angular movement about an axis 29 paralled to axis 23. Mounting means 28 has a bore 27 in which a stud shaft 26 of control roller 13 is fixedly secured. The angle between the axis of bore 27 and axis 29 is preferably approximately 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the axis 29 is parallel to the axis 23 of transporting roller 12, but mounting means 28 may be supported in such a manner that axis 29 is slanted to axis 23. A ring 30 holds mounting means 28 in the bearing recess 25.

A lever arm 31 is connected with mounting means 28 and has a slide pin 32a located in an elongated opening 32b of a shiftable bar 32. Bar 32 extends along the row of stretching devices, and the lever arm 31 of the mounting means of each stretching device has a pin 32a which extends into an elongated opening 32b in shifting bar 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, shifting bar 32 has a projecting part engaging a nut 34 mounted on a threaded spindle 35 which is driven over gear means 36 by the shaft of an electric motor 37. Two limit switches 38 and 39 have actuators 38a and 38b engaged by a projection on nut 34 in two end positions, so that the switches are respectively operated to energize a relay 41 whose contacts, not shown, effect reversal of the direction of rotation of motor 37 whenever one of the limit switches 38 or 39 is operated. As a result, nut 34 reciprocates shifting bar 32, and mounting means 13 is angularly displaced by lever arm 31 together with control roller 13. The angular displacement can be selected by adjusting the positions of the limit switches 38 and 39 for permitting nut 34 to travel greater or smaller distances along spindle 35.

It is evident that the operating means which are designated as a whole by reference numeral 37a, cause movement of control roller 13 with mounting means 28 so that axis 24 moves along an imaginary cone surface sector, corresponding to a movement of axis 24 in two mutually perpendicular directions.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 the axle portion 26 of control roller 13 is secured in a slanted bore of a mounting means 45 which is supported for turning movement about an axis 24 parallel to axis 23. Mounting means 45 has a circular gear 46 meshing with the teeth of a rack bar 47 which may be reciprocated in the manner described with reference to FIG. 1 for shifting bar 32.

However, it is preferred that rack bar 47 is articulated with a connecting rod 48 which is pivotally connected with a crank wheel 50 having gear teeth meshing with a worm gear 51 driven by an electric motor 52. The position of pivot 49 can be adjusted along a radial slot 49a, so that the length of the reciprocating strokes of rack bar 47 can be adjusted. This construction has the advantage that the turning angle of control roller 13 can be made greater than in the construction illustrated at 37c in FIG. 1.

When control roller 13 turns with mounting means 28 or 45 about axis 29, it moves between angular positions in which its axis 24 defines diflerent angles with axis 23 of transporting roller 12. Due to the slant of control roller 13, loops 15 are of different size, gradually decreasing in the direction of the travel of the flexible element 14. In the position of FIG. 6, for example, where the angle between axes 24 and 23 is small, loops 15 are closely spaced from each other so that contact points 11 and 16, and the corresponding first and last loops in the direction of travel, are spaced from each other a certain distance in axial direction of transporting roller 12. In the position of FIG. 2 in which the angle between axis 24 of control roller 13 and axis 23 of transporting roller 12 is greater, the loops slide along the rollers to the illustrated position in which they are spread farther apart so that the distance between the first contact point 11 of the first loop and the second contact point 16 of the last loop is greater than in the position of control roller 13 shown in FIG. 6.

If during the opposite reciprocating strokes of the operating means, the respective mounting means is turned together with control roller 13 to the position of FIG. 6, for example, the last loop and the intermediate loops will slide towards the left as viewed in the drawings from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 6, as indicated by the arrows C in FIG. 2.

During continued angular reciprocation of the control roller 13, loops 15 will move between the position of FIG. 2 and the position of FIG. 6 so that the last loop and point 16 will reciprocate along transporting roller 12 and displace and reciprocate the portion of the flexible element 14 located between transporting rollers 12 and 19. Consequently, the heated portion of the flexible element will transversely oscillate on the surface of the heater 17 whereby the formation of a groove in the surface of the heater is prevented.

If only the control element 13 of the transporting de vice 12a is constructed and operated as explained above, the first point of contact 20 of the flexible element 14 on the surface of transporting roller 19 will reciprocate in axial direction together with the last contact point 16 of transporting roller 12 which will cause a corresponding axial displacement of the last point of contact formed by the last loop on transporting roller 19. This may be undesirable since a transverse oscillation of the flexible element 14 may not be desired in the part of the machine following transporting roller 19.

An axial displacement of the last loop and last point of contact of the flexible element 14 on transporting roller 19 is prevented by the constructions of the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 9. To obtain this result, it is necessary to angularly displace the control roller 22 of the second transporting device 19a substantially in the manner explained with reference to control roller 13 of the first transporting device 12a.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, control rollers 13 and 22 are mounted as described with reference to FIGS. 2 or 6, and control roller 13 is turned between two angularly displaced end positions by the operating means shown at 37a in FIG. 1, or by the operating means shown in FIG. 7, as described above.

If the construction of FIG. 1 is used, the mounting means 28 is connected with the mounting means 28' of control roller 22 by a link 43, or 43' articulated to lever arms 31 and 31", as shown in FIG. 5. If the construction of FIG. 7 is used, chain wheels are secured to the mounting means 45, 45' of control rollers 13 and 22, and connected by a chain 53.

If connecting rod 43 is arranged as shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, control rollers 13 and 22 turn in opposite directions, and if the connecting rod 43' is used, control rollers 13 and 22 turn in the same direction, and the chain construction of FIG. 8 has the same effect. However, if a crossed chain loop is used in the construction of FIG. 8, control rollers 13 and 22 will also turn in opposite directions.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, control rollers 13 and 22 are simultaneously angularly displaced between the positions of FIGS. 3 and 4 so that the last contact point 16 on transporting roller 12 travels to the right as viewed in the drawing when control element 13 moves from the less slanted position of FIG. 3 to the more slanted position of FIG. 4. This axial displacement of the last contact point 16 causes corresponding axial displacement of the first contact point on transporting roller 19, as explained above. However, since control roller 22 is slanted at a steeper angle to the axis of transporting roller 19 in the position of FIG. 4 than in the position of FIG. 3, the last loop and the intermediate loops passing over rollers 19 and 22 are spread to the right as viewed in the drawing, compensating the travel of contact point 20 and the first loop on transporting roller 19 to the right, and consequently the last loop and its contact point 20a remains in the same axial position during the transverse reciprocation of contact points 16 and 20 with the portion of the flexible element 14 passing over the surface 18 of the heater. It will be seen that the loops on both stretching devices 12a and 19a are less spread in the operational position of FIG. 3 than in the operational position of FIG. 4.

The slant of control rollers 13 and 22 is selected so that the axial components v and v of the speed of travel of the flexible element 14 act in opposite directions as indicated by arrows v and v in FIG. 3. This means that each point of flexible element 14 will move toward the right along rollers 12, 13, and toward the left along rollers 22 and 19. The axis of control roller 13 is more downwardly slanted in the position of FIG. 4 than in the position of FIG. 3, and the axis of control roller 22 is more upwardly slanted in the position of FIG. 4 than in the position of FIG. 3, and rollers 13 and 22 are slanted in opposite direction, the free end of control roller 13 approaching the free end of transporting roller 12, while the free end of control roller 22 is farther spaced from transporting roller 19 than the other end of control roller 22. This requires a simultaneous increase or decrease of the slants of the control rollers 13 and 22 to the axes of the transporting rollers 12 and 19 which is obtained, e.g., by an gularly displacing the mounting means 28, 28, 45, of control rollers 13 and 22 in the same turning direction which is obtained by the constructions described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8.

Under certain circumstances, it may be advantageous to provide an arrangement in which the loops of the two transporting devices are spread in opposite directions. In the construction of FIG. 9, transporting rollers 1) and 12 cooperate with control rollers 13 and 22 as explained above. However, the loops on transporting roller 19 and control roller 22 are wound from the first contact point toward the right end of rollers 19 and 22, instead of toward the left ends as described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The slant of control roller 13 and of control roller 22 is selected so that the axial speed component v and v of the speed of travel of the loop portions of the flexible element 14- have the same direction, as indicated by the arrows v and v in FIG. 9. Control rollers 13 and 22 are mounted on mounting means which are angularly displaced by the device of FIG. 5 or FIG. 8, and it is necessary that control elements 13 and 22 are turned in opposite directions, as schematically indicated by the arrows D and E.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the control rollers 13, 22 are pivotable in the directions indicated by the arrows D, E. The steeply slanted control roller 13 has permitted the loops to slide to the illustrated widely spread position in which the last loop with contact point 16 is located closely adjacent the free end of transporting roller 12. The first contact point and the first loop passing over transporting roller 19 have assumed a corresponding position so that the loops on transporting roller 19 and control roller 22 are spaced small distances. When control rollers 13 and 22 are turned to other angular positions in opposite directions, the last loop and contact point 16 on transporting roller 12 and intermediate loops will slide toward the first loop, and the loops passing over transporting roller 12 and control roller 13 will be closely spaced. At the same time, the free end of control roller 22 moves away from the free end of transporting roller 19 so that the loops on rollers 19 and 22 spread, and the first loop with contact point 20 travels toward the left as viewed in the drawing, permitting the last contact point Ztla and the last loop to remain in the same position as required for delivering the flexible element to the next part of the textile machine.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also fined a useful application in other types of apparatus for transporting elongated flexible elements differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an apparatus for transversely oscillating a synthetic yarn sliding on a heater while being stretched by transporting rollers, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for transporting an elongated flexible element, comprising, in combination, first and second rotary means for transporting said flexible element in a direction of travel, and having first and second axes transverse to said direction of travel; control means extending along said first rotary means in axial direction for slidably supporting at least one loop of said flexible element passing over said first rotary means and said control means; mounting means for mounting said control means for angular movement between first and second positions defining different angles with said first axis; and operating means for reciprocating said mounting means and control means between said first and second positions so that said loop slides in said first position in one axial direction, and in said second position in the opposite axial direction along said control means and first rotary means whereby the portion of said flexible element between said loop and said second rotary means is reciprocated in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of said transported flexible element.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first rotary means is a transporting roller rotatable about said first axis; and wherein said control means is a control roller supported on said mounting means for rotation about an axis defining an acute angle said first axis.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means mount said control means for movement in two mutually perpendicular directions.

4. An apparatus acconding to claim 1 wherein said mounting means is mounted for angular movement about an axis, and wherein said control means includes a stud shaft secured to said mounting means and a control roller rotatable on said stud shaft and having an axis slanted to said axis of said mounting means.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said axis of said mounting means is parallel to said first axis of said first rotary means, said first rotary means including a transporting roller.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said operating means include a reciprocable bar, and means connecting said mounting means with said bar so that said mounting means is angularly displaced about the axis thereof upon reciprocation of said bar.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said mounting means includes a gear portion concentric with said axis of said mounting means, and wherein said bar has a rack portion meshing with said gear portion.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising a second control means extending along said second rotary means in axial direction for slidably supporting at least one loop of said flexible element passing over said second rotary means and said second control means; second mounting means for mounting said second control means for angular movement between first and second positions defining different angles with said second axis; and including connecting means connecting said first mentioned mounting means with said second mounting means for simultaneous turning movement so that upon reciprocation of said first mounting means, said second mounting means and said second control means are angularly displaced.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said connecting means are constructed and arranged in such a manner that said first-mentioned mounting means and control means are turned in the same direction as said second mounting means and second control means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said connecting means are constructed and arranged in such a manner that said first-mentioned mounting means and control means are turned in a direction opposite to the direction of turning of said second mounting means and second control means.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second rotary means include, respectively first and second transporting rollers having parallel first and second axes; wherein said control means includes a first control roller having a first control axis slanted to said first axis; wherein said mounting means supports said first control roller for rotation about said first control axis; and comprising a second control roller having a second control axis slanted to said second axis of said second transporting roller; and second mounting means for mounting said second control roller for rotation about said second control axis; and wherein said operating means include means for reciprocating said second mounting means and said second control means between first and second control positions.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first transporting roller and said first control roller have opposite first surface portions about which first loops are wound in a first axial direction; wherein said second transporting roller and said second control roller have opposite second surface portions about which second loops of said flexible element are wound, said first and second surface portions being located opposite each other so that upon simultaneous angular displacement of said first and second control rollers, the last loop of said first loops and the first loop of said second loops simultaneously move in the same axial direction, while the last contact point of said second loops remains in the same axial position.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first transporting roller and said first control roller have opposite first surface portions on which first loops of said flexible element are wound; wherein said second transporting roller and said second control roller have opposite surface portions on which second loops of said flexible elements are wound, said first and second surface portions being axially staggered so that upon angular displacement of said first and second control rollers, the first loop of said second loops moves in the same axial direction as the last loop of said first loops while the last contact point of said second loops remains in the same axial position.

14. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the loop passing over said first transporting roller and said first control roller, and the loop passing over said second transporting roller and said second control roller are driven by said transporting rollers in such a manner as to have speed components in the same axial direction whereby said loops are simultaneously spread and contracted in axial direction.

:15. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said loop passing over said first transporting roller and said first control roller, and the other loop passing over said second transporting roller and said second control roller, are driven by said transporting rollers in such a manner as to have axial speed components in opposite axial directions whereby one of said loops is expanded in one axial direction while the other loop is contracted in the same axial direction upon angular displacement of said first and second control rollers.

16. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means are constructed and controlled in such a manner that the sliding of the loop is caused by reciprocating spreading and contraction of the loop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 1953 McDermott 242-47.09 5/1956 Drisch et a1. 24247.09 X 

